xdaliclock in gnome-screensaver

Question

At the moment I use xscreensaver with xdaliclock. Now I want to replace xscreensaver with gnome-screensaver. Now my question is: How to configure gnome-screensaver to use xdaliclock?

Answer 1

I hope you enjoy ;-)

If you're lazy and just want it to work, run this at terminal and choose XDaliClock:

cd ~/ && wget dl.dropbox.com/u/4098082/xdaliclock.sh && chmod +x ~/xdaliclock.sh && ~/xdaliclock.sh && rm ~/xdaliclock.sh    

Step by step instructions:

1) Install some apps:

sudo aptitude install gnome-screensaver xdaliclock xscreensaver-data

2) Create a file:

gedit ~/xdaliclock

3) Then paste this into it:

[Desktop Entry]
Encoding=UTF-8
Name=xdaliclock
GenericName=XDaliClock
TryExec=xdaliclock
StartupNotify=false
Exec=xdaliclock -root -font BUILTIN3 -24 -cycle -visual best
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Categories=GNOME;Screensaver;
OnlyShowIn=GNOME;

4) Save the file

5) Move the file:

sudo mv ~/xdaliclock /usr/share/applications/screensavers/xdaliclock.desktop

6) Create a symbolic link:

sudo ln -s /usr/bin/xdaliclock /usr/lib/xscreensaver/xdaliclock

7) Open the Screen Save Preferences

gnome-screensaver-preferences

8) Choose xdaliclock

9) Enjoy!

Reference: http://my.opera.com/pau4o/blog/2009/07/07/xdaliclock-started-via-gnome-screensaver

Answer 2

A more general question would be how do you configure gnome-screensaver.

GNOME's screensaver utility does not display or give options to display advanced screensaver options. For an explination on why from the GNOME developers please read the following:

http://live.gnome.org/GnomeScreensaver/FrequentlyAskedQuestions#Why_doesn.27t_the_screensaver_preferences_tool_allow_me_to_change_the_settings_for_the_theme.3F

This is probablt not the complete answer but here's my best shot:

• Press alt-f2
• Insert the text "gconf-editor" in the box and click "Run" button
• Press ctrl-f
• In the search type in "screensaver"
• At the bottom, notice "/apps/gnome-screensaver" - double click this

Now this is the point where I'm not too sure. In this path key you will find a key "themes". Try to fill this field with either:

[xdaliclock]

OR

[screensaver-xdaliclock-slideshow]

It is possible that these two screensavers are not compatible unless programmed into gnome-screensaver, but you would have to ask gnome developers.

Answer 3

Convert xdaliclock.xml to a .desktop file

How come my xscreensaver "hacks" don't show up in the gnome-screensaver
configuration tool?  

gnome-screensaver uses standard desktop entry (.desktop) files to
define the screensaver themes. Xscreensaver XML configuration files
can be converted into .desktop files using the
migrate-xscreensaver-config.sh script in the data directory of
the gnome-screensaver sources. 

from here

this is essentially what desegua said with less detail but a reference
it also uses the configuration tool instead of copy and paste from a code box
to try and eliminate a possible source of error.

if his solution didn't work try this instead of the .desktop paste